Apparatus for removing casings from sausages and the like



D. D. DEMAREST ET AL 2,672,646 APPARATUS FOR REMovING cAsINGs FROM sAusAGEs AND THE LIKE March 23,- 1954 13 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l5, 1950 l- Lmmw WK IN VEN TORS Demqref, Perk/HJ,

g/qs rr/[f l/V//ndm /faf/L/.S and (ar/ ere/ydf 5) kwaal, M

ATTORNEYS HIMU arc D. D. DEMAREST ET AL 2,672,646 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM SAUSAGES AND THE LIKE Filed June l5, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET AL 2,672,646

APPARATUS FOR REMovING CAsINGs FROM SAUSAGES AND THE LIKE Filed June l5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORS Dame/ @aug/as Demarest /oberr Nerf/rf Per/fins, #W7/fam fra/"fus and Car/ 9e/*endl* A T TURA/E75 March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET A| 2,672,646

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM SAUSAGES AND TRE LIKE l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June l5, 1950 INVENTORS Dan/'el 0mg/a; @ema/'e513 ovbejrf Nerf/ff Per/rms, W//Nam Kr/a5 and Carl Here/7dr r 25mm, 2042, Maf

ATTO/ww March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET AL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING cAsINGs FROM SAUSAGES AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June l5, 1950 d? INVENTORS /a` emaresf,

March 23. 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET AL 2,672,646

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM SUSGES AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June l5, 1950 f, w E M mean/J m mr 5 T wS lA QT r rd qe WM5@ MMM f m e f a l @fnl 0b.# F d 0 d @RWC v/ r4 E EN March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET AL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING cAsINGs FROM sAUsAGEs AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 15, 1950 s s k March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET AL 2,672,546

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM SAUSAGES AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June l5, 1950 Dan/e/ 00u INVENTORS was. wma/*652,* Robe/f Marr/.ff Perm/75, W/V//am /far/us and 6dr/ efewdi @y l A 7 'T0/w06 www March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMARl-:s'r ET AL 2,672,646

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM sAusAGEs AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June l5, 1950 AT TOR/VE??? INVENTORS 0mm/jest, f Per/rms Dan/el Doug/a5 Robert Mer/'ff #Vl/Nam fa/vas and Cr/ erend/ M sT ET AL 2,572,646 VING CASINGS GES AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet lO March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMARE APPARATUS FOR REMO FROM sAUsA Filed June 15, 195o March 23, 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ETAL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING cAsINGs FROM sAUsAGEs AND THE LIKE 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed June 15, 1950 March 23. 1954 D. D. DEMAREST ET AL 2,672,646

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM sAUsAGEs AND THE LIKE A T TORNE 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 T ET AL MOVING CASINGS D. DEMARES APPARATUS FOR RE A NQ Q FROM SAUSAGES AND THE LIKE March 23, 1954 Filed June l5, 1950 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1954 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASINGS FROM SAUSAGES AND THE LIKE Daniel Douglas Demarest,

and Robert Merritt Pe William Karius, Union, burn, N. J., assignors to Linker Machines, Inc.,

Newark, N. J.,

Port Washington, N. Y., rkins, Upper Montclair, and Carl Berendt, Milla corporation of New York Application June 15, 1950, Serial No. 168,324

32 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to the art of removing the casings or skins from such food products as sausages, frankfurters and the like. Skinless food products such as frankfurters are produced by rst lling a casing or skin of cellophane or other cellulosic or synthetic substances with minced meat or other minced foods, pinching or constricting the casing at spaced intervals to form the usual links or sections separated by ligatures or ties, cooking, smoking or processing these links While so encased and final- 1y removing the Casings. If the casing is removed manually, the operation is tedious, time consuming, costly and unsanitary. Machines have been proposed for this purpose, but these usually involve such operations as slitting the casing longitudinally or handling the food in such a way as to cut or otherwise mar the stuffing itself. Moreover, if these machines are provided with devices for severing the ligatures between the links, these are operated at predetermined preset intervals depending for accuracy of operation on the uniformity in the length of these links. If

the length of the links is varied, the severing device must be manually reset to adapt itself to the new link length.

Most of the frankfurters now made are linked by string which interferes with the operation of the Skinning devices now known to the trade. The machine of the present invention is believed to be the iirst to successfully skin frankfurters `which are linked by string.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved machine which strips the casing oli a minced food. product, such as a string of sausages or frankfurters, automatically, quickly, cleanly and without marring the product itself, while continuously advancing the food product and which operates. automatically and accurately to sever the links or sections at the constricted ligatures or ties, regardless of the length of the links and without the necessity of adjustment or the necessity of interrupting the continuous advancement of the food product. In accordance with certain features of the. present invention, there is provided a' device for severing the encased sections of the food product at the ligatures or ties, a device for clamping these ligatures prior to the severing operations, a device for slitting the casing of each link transversely near the end of said link and a device for forming with the severed ligature beyond the slit a holding tab by which said casing may be torn and stripped oi the stuings.

As a further feature, the operation of these devices is initiated and controlled automatically by a feeler device which senses the ligature between the links or sections as these ligatures reach a predetermined station and which, therefore, serves to'operate these devices automatically in accordance with the length of each individual link. Consequently, no presetting or adjustment is required for these devices in accordance with the length of the individual links.

As a further apparatus feature, the holding tabs formed as described are suctionally held by a stripping device and the casing helically torn and peeled oli each link.

The novel method involved in the present disclosure is not claimed herein, but is claimed in our divisional application, Serial No. 370,898 led June 12, 1953, for Method for Removing Casings from sausages and the Like.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sausage Skinning machine embodying the present invention and showing the top cover outlined in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 1a is a detail section of the machine taken on lines Ia-Ia of Fig. 1, but showing the top cover in section;

Fig. 1b is a detail section of the machine taken on lines Ib-Ib of Fig. 1, but showing the top cover in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the sausage Skinning machine;

Fig. 3 is a section of the machine taken approximately along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the machine at the instant the ligature between adjoining sausages has reached the feeler device controlling the operations of the ligature holding and severing devices and the device for partially slitting the skin transversely near the end of the sausage;

Fig. 4 is a section of the machine taken approximately along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail section of the machine taken approximately along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section of the machine taken approximately along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail section of the machine taken approximately along the lines 7-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of the machine taken approximately along the lines 8--8 of Fig. 2 and shows the machine at the instant the ligature has reached the feeler device, but before the ligature severing knife has started to operate;

Fig. 9 is a detail section of the machine taken approximately along the lines Si-S of Fig. 8, but shows the one-revolution clutchA locking mechanism in released position to initiate the rotation of the clutch at the instant the ligature has reached the feeler device, and also the movement of the feeler device with the advancing sausage and the operations of the ligature clamping device, the ligature severing device and the skin slitting device controlled by said feeler device;

Fig. 19 is a detail section of the clutch locking mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 9, but indicating said mechanism inclutch locking position;

Fig. 11 is a section of the machine similar to that shown in Fig. 8, but indicating the knife in position after severing the ligature between adjacent sausages;

. Fig. 12 is an enlargement of the inactive ligature severing device shown in Fig. 8 andtaken along the lines I2-l2 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the ligature sevring device;

Fig. 14 is a section of the ligature severing device taken along the lines I4-I 4 of Fig. 12; i Fig. 15 is an enlarged section of the machine taken approximately along the lines lE-l of Fig. 2 and showing the ligature clamping device shiited in position to strip the end section of the ligature beyond the transverse slit and to form thereby a tab by which the entire sausage skin may be subsequently peeled oi the sausage;

Fig. 16 is a detail section of the ligature clamping and skin slitting devices taken approximately along the, lines iii- H5Y of Fig. 15,;

Fig. 1'1" is a top plan view of the ligature clamping and severing devices shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a section of the machine similar to that of Fig. 15, but showing the feeler device at the instant it has been released to permit the next sausage link to pass therethrough after completion of the ligature severing and tab forming operations;

Fig. 19 is a detail section of the latch device controlling the release of the feeler device and shown4 at the instant said latch device is tripped to release said feeler device;

Fig. 20 is a top. plan view of the feeler device with associated ligature clamping and severing devices and tab forming device;

Fig. 21Y is a top. plan view of a bellY crank forming part of the feeler device;

Fig. 22 is an axial section through the onerevolutionclutch for operating the feeler device;

Fig. 23 is a section of the one-revolution clutch taken along the lines 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is the top plan view of the too slide bar for operating the ligature severing knife;

' Fig. 25 is a face view of the slide bar shown in Fig. 24';

Fig. 26 is a top plan view of the upper feeler and ligature clamping bar;

Fig.. 27 isa face view of the upper feeler and I igatureclamping bar;

Fig; 28; is an end view of the upper feeler and ligaturelclamping bar;

Fig. 29 is a section of the upper` feeler and ligature clamping bar taken along the lines 2li-23 of, Fig. 2'7.;

Fig. 30 is a top plan view of the lower feeler and ligature clamping bar;

Fig. 31 is a face view of the lower feeler and ligature clamping bar;

Fig. 32 is an end view of the lower feeler and ligature clamping bar;

Fig. 33 is a section of the lower feeler and ligature clamping bar taken along the lines 33-33 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 34 is, a top, plan view of thesuction skin stripping device;

Fig. 35 is a transverse section of the suction skin stripping device taken along the lines 35-35 of Fig. 34:;

Fig. 36 is a section of the suction skin stripping device taken along the lines 39-36 of Fig. 34;

Fig. 37 is an enlarged section oi the suction skin stripping device taken along the lines 31-31 of Fig. 34;

Fig. 38 is a side View of the sausage link, the helical stripping line of the skin being shown in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 39 is a transverse section of the fceler device shown While it is engaging the sausage link;

Fig. 40 is a transverse section of the feeler. device shown at the instant the ligature between adjoining sausage links has reached the feeler device;

Fig. Lil is a transverse section of the feeler device shown at the instant the knife has been moved into position to produce a partialtransverse slit in the sausage skin near the end of the sausage link; and

Fig. 42 is a top plan view of a sausage link showing the transverse slit in the skin near the end of said sausage.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION rhe present invention is applicable to anyiood product and especially a minced meat product enclosed in a skin or casing in the general nature of ordinary sausages, frankfurters, wieners and the like. 1n the form shown, the machine is illustrated in its application to a string of -conventional sausages and more specifically to frankiurters i0 (Fig. 1) comprising a boiled or otherwise cooked minced meat il (Fig. 3) stuffed in a tubular skin or casing I2 of cellophane or any other suitable material which must be removed before this meat is consumed. The meat casing i2 (Figs. 1, 39-42) is pinched at spaced sections to form ligatures or ties i3 between frankfurter links or Sections.

The string of frankfrrters ill is moved continuouslv endivise along an entry trough or channel i4 (Figs. 1 and 2l by a rst feed device I5 into the eld of action of a feeler device IS. This feelerv device l5 senses the arrival of a ligature i3 at a predetermined station and serves, alsojas aligature clamping device (Figs. 16, 39, 40` and 4.1.). The feeler device I6 also serves to initiate and control the operation of a ligature severing, device` il (Figs. 11-14), a skin slitting device la (Figs. l5, 16, 39, 40 and 41) and a tab forming device 2t (Figs. 15 and 17) carried by said feeler device.

After the frankfurters I@ have been Severed` and a skin tab 2l (Fig. 3.7) formed at the advanced end of each irankfurter in the manner to be described, these frankiurters are moved endwise by asecond feed device 22 (Fig. l) and then along a way 23 by a third feed device 24 (Figs. l and 6) into the field of operation of' a suction skin stripping device 25 (Figs. l, 134-38). At the same time, the frankfurters are advanced into the eld of operation of the skin stripping device 25, they are rotated by this third feed device 2Q, to cause the casing l2y to be neatly torn and peeled off the frankfurter as a helical strip,: as shown in Fig. 38.

The machine more specifically comprises an elevated platform or bed plate 30 (Figs. l, 2 and 3) supported on frame pieces 3| and serving to support above it the trough or channel 4, the feeler device I5, the ligature severing device Il, the skin slitting devi-ce i8, the tab forming device 20, the feed devices 5, 22 and 24 and the skin stripping device 25.

Below the bed plate 30 is the drive and also the power transmission from this drive to these different devices. The power comes from an electric motor (not shown) or other suitable source and drives a pulley 33 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) on a main drive shaft 34 through a belt 35. On this shaft 34 is a sprocket wheel 36 which drives at a reduced speed a larger sprocket wheel 31 on a countershaft 38 through a chain 40. This countershaft 38 serves to drive the three feed devices l5, 22 and 24.

THE FIRST FEED DEVICE I5 The first feed devi-ce I5 serves to move the string of frankfurters along the entry trough i4 towards the field of operation of the feeler device |6 and comprises a pair of feed rollers 45 and 46 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) disposed on opposite sides of a frankfurter in feed engagement therewith. These feed rollers 45 and 45 are constructed and mounted to impart to the frankfurter engaged thereby not only endwise movement towards the feeler device l5, but also a partial rotary movement to render the advanced clamped end section of the skin or casing on said frankfurters taut for transverse slitting, as will be more fully described. To that end, the feed rollers 45 and 46 are secured to the upper ends of respective shafts 4? and 43 (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and '7) inclined in opposite directions with respect to the vertical and are peripherally grooved for conforming feed engagement with the frankfurters. The shaft 41 is journalled in a fixed bearing 5D fastened to the underside of the bed plate 30 and has secured to its lower end a worm gear 5| meshing with one side of a worm 52 on the countershaft 38. The other shaft 48 is ,iournalled in a floating bearing 53 secured to a collar 54 (Fig. 2) supported for free rotary movement on the countershaft 38 and has secured to its lower end a wormgear 56 (Fig. '7) meshing with a worm 53a on shaft 38. The feed roller 45 is pressed against the frankfurter HJ and the frankfurter in turn is pressed against the other feed roller 45 by a spring 5'! (Figs. 2 and 7) secured at one end to an arm 58 rigid with the bearing 53 and anchored at its other end to the underside of the bed plate 30. This spring 51 yieldably urges the entire unit 45, 48 and 53 clockwise (Fig. 7) about the countershaft 38.

THE SECOND FEED DEVICE 22 After the advanced end of a frankfurter l0 has been operated upon by the different mechanisms carried by the feeler device I6 as will be more fully described, this frankfurter is picked up by the second feed device 22 and advanced towards the third feed device 24. This second feed device 22 comprises a pair of cylindrical feed rollers 55 and 35 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) disposed on opposite sides of the frankfurter in feed engagement therewith and secured to the upper ends of respective vertical shafts 6? and 58. The shaft 31 is journalled in a fixed bearing 'l0 fastened to and depending from the bed plate 3D and has secured to its lower end a worm wheelll meshing with one side of a Worm 12 on` the countei-shaft 38. in a floating bearing 'I4 including two arms 14a, each arm having a hub 75 supported for free rotary movement on the countershaft 38 and has secured to its lower end a worm gear 'I6 meshing with the other side of the worm 12. The feed roller |56 is pressed against the frankfurter |0 and the frankfurter in turn is pressed against the other feed roller by a spring 88 secured at one end to an arm 8| rigid with the bearing 14 and anchored at its other end to the underside of the bed plate 30. This spring 80 yieldably urges the entire unit 66, 38 and 14 clockwise (Figs. 3 and 5) about the countershaft 38.

THE THIRD FEED DEVICE 24 The third feed device 24 picks up the frankfurter which has been severed from the rest of the string and advances it along the way 23 at a speed greater than the speed of advancement of said string to effect its wider separation from said string. This feed device 24 also advances the severed frankfurter into the field of operation of the skin stripping device 25 (Figs. 1, 34 38), Where the skin tab 2| (Fig. 1'7) formed at the advanced end of the severed frankfurter is suctionally taken hold of and at the same time said frankfurter is rotated to cause the skin or casing l2 thereon to be torn and stripped 011'` as a helical strip, as shown in Fig. 38.

The feed device 24 comprises a set of parallel lower feed rollers 93 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) on which the severed frankfurters |U are adapted to rest as they advance along the guideway 23. This guideway 23 comprises guide plates 85 and 86 supported, respectively, by brackets 81 and 88. The guideway 23 is open at the bottom to permit the frankfurters to rest on the feed rollers 9|). Each of these feed rollers 99 is secured to l'a shaft 9| journalled in a bearing 92 mounted on bed plate 30 and is inclined with respect'to the course of the way 23, to cause the frankfurter to move endwise along said way and at the same time to rotate about its'longitudinal axis.

For driving the lower feed rollers 99,"each of the roller shafts 9| carries a bevel gear 89 meshing with a corresponding bevel gear 93 on'a shaft 94. This shaft 94 is journalled in bearings95 mounted on the bed plate 39 and carries a sprocket wheel 9B (Figs. 4 and 5) driven from the countershaft 3s through a transmission cornprising a, gear el on said countershaft meshing with a pinion 98 on a shaft |09 carrying a sprocket wheel |9| driving the sprocket wheel 96 through a chain |02.

The feed device 24 also comprises a set of parallel upper feed rollers llc (Figs. 1,1a, 5 and 6) resting on the frankfurters il) as they advance along the way 23. Each of these feed rollers Hi) is secured to a shaft |||journalled in a bearing H2 fastened to the underside of a cover plate H3 and is inclined with respect to the course of the way 23 to cooperate with the lower feed rollers 98 in moving the frankfurters li) endwise along said way and at the same' time in rotating them about their longitudinal axis; This clover plate |13 is secured on one side to a pair of blocks ||4 (Figs. l, 1b and 2) supported on shaft I5, so that this plate is hinged about said shaft. l l

The shaft H5 is journalled in bearings ||'3 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to the bed plate 3|) and carries a series of bevel gears (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) in mesh with bevel gear 8 respectively on the The other shaft '68 is journaleldv aeeaeaei roller: shaitsy if; respeotivelystor-drivefthealfee:

rollers |z|;0. A sprocket Vwheel |20' (11T-ige.'4 1;. 2,'. 4 and: 5*): on. thisv` shaft: I .I 'fis. driven from-the courrtershaft 384 through.v a transmission. comprising the; gear 97|: on said: countershift meshing. with atpinion' I2 IV onfa shaft .izrcarryingx av sprocket wheelf|-23 drivingithe sprooketwheel; |20 through ai chain?. I2T4a Thefcover plate `I I3` being freely hinged on the-V shaftli, theupper feed rollers, H: carried by saidzplate: rest; onk the rankfurters and thereby serverto; maintenir these frankfurters in proper feed. engagement with-.said rollersf and theflower feedrollersi SBZ: The two feed devices* I 5: and. 22 are adapted toy operatey effectively.' regardless ofv the length andvdiametenof.. the. sausages being skinned andthe floating mounting for the upper ieedfrollers ||i| permits tlrxeithirdjf'eed` device 24 tol adapt-'itself' to sausagesof the same variable size".-

Tozliinitf the downward position ofthe cover plate |ii3 whenno'r frankfurters are in the way Z13-there isfprovide'd a block |33 (Figs. 1 and 1b). fastened to theY bedI plate 30'and serving'as a Stop ionaf hand screw' Iii!`y threaded into said cover plate;

After the frankfurt'ers are advanced# alongY the way-by thefeed device Miand after they have been successively skinnedb'y the device 25, they aredeliveredon:to a: discharge channel or trough |32 for packaging' on otherf dispensation.

FEELERDEVICE i 6 The:feelerfdevioef` Iii/f (Figs.y Il, 8, 1i, l5, i6, 1S, 20;.,26-332 anda39--4'1lf-eomprisesa lower bar ld withzaihub keyedfto thefupper; endv of upright shaft '-forangular oscillatory; movement about theiaxisrroftsaidf shaft. This. feeler har iii. is supported; on a bearing. plate' MQ between the base` ofsaid'ibar anda'thebed plate-3d and.v has awiderba'se H52 and a: rib Itserving;y asa-rest iorrtherfrankfurters as they aremoved through the-r sensing field of theV feeler device..

Supportedon the-lower feeler bar |53A is an upper feeler. bar IEE having a forkedr end seetion. |55 pivotally secured to oneend.` of said lowerrfeeler banby a pivot pin |55-, This upper feeley bart |54 oscillates'angularly with theA lower feeder-:ban ld about' the axis. of the shaft Il, butiiefree toswing edgewise: up and down about the axis.; ofthef pivot pin. |561.

During.' normal: operating periods; thex feeler` loa-rs |53 and Iii-iare `int the angular Vposit-ionY shownirrig; I andinFig. ;in;full,lines. Whilev in? this'. angulaivposition of; the? feeler.` barsV |58 and |54, the upper bar PSA isi iii-:raised inclined positional-nd the:v advanced franltfurterV of the stringf` ofajfrankfurt'ers is moving over the upper.

edge ofithe rib |53 with. theinclined'. raised upper resting on this advanced frankfurter, asY shown iniFigrSQ; As'soon asthe-ligature I3 onV the trailing end. of.` this advanced' frankfurter reaches the feeler. barsandv |54, theraised upper feeler. bar -|54 drops by gravity onto said ligature:- and clampsit between said oars as shownt in Figs. 3.- and 4U. This sensing action of the upper` feeler; bar |54 onthe ligatureV |3- initiates the operation of the ligature severingv chevieev I l, the skin slitting devicefIlll and the tab. formingdevicecarriedzby the `feeler device While these devices are operating, the feeler bars |50 and |513 clarnpinglyv hold the ligature |3 therebetween and at=the Sametime move angularlyina horizontalplane about the axis of... the shaftjm from. the. position. shown. in .full lines Fig; 2U to the position shown in dt and dash 8i# linesgaso that the frankfurters; oontinueftiieiri: movement. After the operations .of theseidevices have` been completed, the feeler device is angu larly returned about the axis of the shafti |53? back into the position shown in fulllines-r in Fig; 20..

To facilitate the angular movement of: the feeler device .i described, the lowerfeeler. bar.r |59Y carries at its outer end a wheel |51. adapted to ride over the bed plate 3Q. To effect thefan'guli lar movement of the feeler device l-'desoribed the upright shaft itil to which the lower ffeeleri bar I5@ is keyed is journalled in a bear-ing#` |69. aiiixed to and depending from the bedr. plate 3`|Ii This shaft t is rocked through the operation; of a drum earn. ISI (Figs. 2', Bland 4) controlled*- byA the sensing action of the feeler' devine ll';v This cam IiI is mounted on a cam shaft |5222 constituting the output or driven shaft ofa1one'" revolution olutoh |83 having: an input orvdrivey shaft ifi to which a gear |523 is secured This' gear it meshes with a gear iti-.ion thefcountershaft 3S, so that the input shaft Sri of the onerevolution clutch im is driven continuously while the rotation of the drum earn 25|' is nitiated upon the ligature sensing aetion of the feel'er' device iii is continued for a single revol'u tion. fi follower arm iii? is secured at one endA to the lower end of the shaft Il' and attsotlrerA end. carries a follower roller |53 extendinginA the cam groove |59 ofV the drum cam |5|', so' that as this earn rotates, thel arm' i' is osoillated and the feeler device I6 isswung about the' axis of the shaft i5! through one complete cycle be:- iore coming to rest.

The one revolution clutch |33 is shown in;

22 and 23 of the Hilliard type and coinpi'ises a drum l??? having a .hub i's'I whioh'embraces the output earn shaft |52 with a free rota'4 tive ht and which is keyed to the gear m5'. Keyecl tothis shaft |62 inside the drum I'i is a sleeve |i'2`. Extending into the space between the pe;- ripheral wall of the drum Hd and the sleeve HS. is a cage V53 integral or otherwise rigid'with` a dise IM mounted for free rotation on theshaft. |52. Between the sections 1'55 of thev oage|3` are rollers I'E seated on flats il? on the periph: ery of the sleeve H2 andengagingv the inner periphery of the peripheral wall ofthe. drum; We. A collar I'll keyed onthe shaft |62 hasae pinand spring connection iiiwiththeflock y.dise |14 tending torotate said diseoloekwise (Fig,` 23):' to jarnthereby the rollers IE5. between the peripheral wall of the drum I'li and the sleeve |72L and to oonneotthereby said drum and said sleeve for rotation. in unison. l

The lock disc |14 is normally heldagainst` rotationby a pawl Im (Figs. 2, Sandie) engage ing a tooth |82 on said look dise. This pawl' |B| is operated and controlled from the feeler` device I6 through a oontrolrod |83 which extends with a slidefit through a guide sleeve|84=fastened to the lower faoeofA the-bed plate-fillA and through a block or bracket |85 seeuredto: the' upper` fac-eef this bed plate, and which isurged' axially downwardlyV through a` coily springa w51. The axial movement of the controlv rod itat-is transmitted to the pawl I, and for thatpur'- pose,A this pawl constitutesv oneV arm' ofA a bell' crank i8? mountedv loosely on a shaft` |53, the` other arm ISI of said bell crank being connected to the lower vend ofthe control rod |83 by being threaded into a block |9Ia. The'block Iia has-a: shaft section |9|b pivotally supported in the free end; I'S'Ic of' arm |9|'. A collar ll'd is secured'to the shaft section |9|b to hold the block |9|a on the arm |9|. The lower end of the rod |83 eX- tends through the block |9|a and has threaded thereon a lock nut |9|e. The spring |89 is ccniined between the guide sleeve |84 and the connecting block |9|a.

During normal operations, i. e., when no ligature feeler impulse is active, the control rod |83 is locked in its uppermost position by means to be described, against the action of the spring |80 and the pawl |8| is in engagement with the tooth |82 on the lock disc |14 and locks thereby said disc against rotation. The clutch rollers E15 will be loose in the space between the drum |10 and the sleeve |12 and the drum will, therefore, rotate idly. When the control rod |83 is released, it snaps downward through the action of `the spring |80 and this causes the pawl I3! to move out of engagement with the tooth |82 on the lock disc |14. This operation releases the lock disc |14 and causes the collar |18 through its pin and spring connection |80 to rotate the lock disc sufficiently to jam the rollers |16 between the drum |10 and the sleeve |12 and the shaft |02 to rotate. The rotation of the shaft |02 continues for one revolution. In the meantime, the pawl |3| moves into position by means to be described to engage the tooth |82 on the lock disc |10 when the disc has made one revolution and to hold said disc and in turn the shaft |62 against rotation, until the next feeler impulse from the feeler device I is received. For moving the pawl |8| into position to engage the tooth |82 on the lock disc |14 when the disc has made one revolution, there is keyed to the shaft |62 a face cam |92 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) having a cam groove |93 for a follower roller |90 mounted on one end of a follower arm |05, the other end of which is secured to the shaft |00. A dog |96 fastened to this shaft |90 has a catch or claw |01 underneath the bell crank arm |9| adapted to engage said arm and to start raising the lowered control rod |83, by the operation of the cam |92 on the shaft |90, soon after the clutch |63 is released.

*For releasably locking the control rod |83 in raised position against the action of the spring |86, there is provided a latch device 200 (Figs. 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 18 and 20) comprising a rock-shaft 20| journalled in the block |85 and having a hemicylindrical latch section 202 adapted to rock into and out of rod locking position in a recess 203 on one side of the control rod |83. For rocking the latch shaft 20|, there is secured to one end of said shaft a lever 204 in the form of a plate urged in raised inclined position shown in Fig. by a counterweight 205 secured thereto or by a spring if desired. In this raised position of the lever 204, the latch section 202 of the rockshaft 20| is in the recess 203 of the raised control rod |83 and is in rotative position to lock said rod against the action of the spring |86 urging said rod downward.

` To turn the rock shaft 20| in position to release the control rod |93 for downward movement, the end of the upper feeler bar |54 has connected'thereto a block 2|0 (Figs. 8, 9, 20, 27 and 28) carrying an upright thumb screw 2|| threaded therein and disposed directly above the lever vplate 204. While this upper feeler bar |54 is in raised position (i. e., before the ligature has been sensed), the lever plate 204 is in raised position shown in Fig. 10, and the latch section 202 of the rock-shaft 20| connected to said lever plate is locking the control rod |83 in raised posil0 tion shown. As soon as aligature reaches the upper feeler bar |54, this bar drops and at the same time the screw 2|| engages the lever plate 204 and depresses it into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 9 against the action of the counterweight 205. This rotates the latch section 202 of the rock-shaft 20| into position to release the control rod |83, and permits it to move downward by the action of the spring |08. This releases the pawl |8| from engagement with the lock disc |14 and permits the clutch 63to rotate the cam shaft |02 clockwise (Fig. 3) for one revolution as described. This in turn swings the feeler device I6 angularly about the axis of the upright shaft |5| through one cycle.

As the cam shaft |02 rotates clockwise (Fig. 3) for the first half revolution, the cam |92 rotates the shaft clockwise and causes thereby the dog |90 on said latter shaft to raise the control rod |83 and the pawl |8| to .move inwardly into disc locking position. At the same time, the feeler device I6 is swung about the axis of the shaft |5| and in a horizontal plane through the operation of the drum cam Iil, from the extreme position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 20 to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 20.

As the cam shaft |62 continues the second half of its clockwise revolution (Fig. 3), the cam |92 rotates the shaft |90 counter-clockwise and causes the dog |90 to be lowered. Since the control rod |83 has been raised by the previous operation during the iirst half of the revolution of the cam shaft |02, and since said control rod is locked in said raised position by the latch device 200 previously described, this lowering of the dog |90 has no eiect on said control rod except to place said dog in position to permit lowering of the bell crank |9| when said control rod is released to move the pawl |8| for clutch release.

The clockwise rotation of the shaft |90 during the rst half of the cycle as described moves the pawl |8| in position to engage the tooth |82 on the clutch |14 when said disc has completed one revolution and to lock thereby said disc and in turn the clutch |63 against further operation upon completion of said revolution.

As the cam shaft |52 continues the second half of its clockwise revolution (Fig. 3), the drum cam swings the feeler device |6 about the axis of the shaft |5| and in a horizontal plane back into the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 20.

As the feeler device |6 moves clamped to the ligature angularly from the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 20 to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 20, the ligature severing device |1, the skin slitting device I8 and the tab forming device 20 carried by said feeler device are operating and complete their operations by the time the feeler device reaches the ,angular position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 20. At that instant, the upper feeler bar |54 is released to swing upward about the axis of the pivot pin |58 by the action of a spring 220 (Fig. 1(8) acting on said feeler bar in a manner. to be hereinafter described. yThe raising of the upper feeler bar |54 permits the advanced frankfurter of the string to pass between the two feeler bars |50 and |54 with this frankfurter resting on the lower feeler bar |50 and the upper feeler bar |50 resting on the frankfurter, while the feeler device l0 as a whole is returning to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 vand 20 about the'axis of the upright shaft |5|.

To hold the upper feeler bar |54 down inligature' clamping position while the feeler device I6 as a whole is moving from theA angular position shown in full lines in Fig. 2O to the angular position shown in dot and dash lines, there is provided above the bed plate 30a holding plate 22| (Figs. 2, 3, 8, 9, 15,A 18, 19 and 20) pivotally mounted on bearings 222 by means ofV a pivot shaft 223. This holding plate 22| is urged counterclockwise (Figs. 8 and 18) into open position about the axis of the pivot shaft 223 by means of a spring 224. A latch 225 pivotally supported at 226 on a bracket 221 is pressed by a spring 228 into engagement with the end of the holding plate 22| and restrains said plate in downwardV position shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 15. 1n this downward position of the holding plate 22|, the upper feeler bar |54 is held down by said plate through the agency of a roller 230 rotatably carried by the block 2|0 at the end of said bar and adapted to ride underneath said holding plate in this downward position. The latch 225 is in the path of travel of the roller 230 as the feeler device I6 is swung angularly about the axis of the upright shaft |5.| from the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 20 to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 29. As the feeler device i6 reaches this extreme latter position, the roller 230 carried by the upper ieeler bar .'54

engages the latch 225 and moves it about the pivot axis at 226 tovrelease the holding plate 22|. The holding plate 22| is thereby permitted to swing openinto the position shown in Fig. 18 by the action of the spring 224. This releases the upper feeler bar |54 for edgewise. pivotal movef ment upward about the axis of the pivot pin |56 by the action of the spring 220, in a manner to be hereinafter described. At that instant, the lever plate 204 is raised into the angular position shown in Fig. l() by the action of the counterweight 205, and the latch section. 202 of the rockshaft 20| is rotated in position to lock the raised control rod |83.

While the feeler device |6 as a whole is returning towards the position shown in full lines in igs. 1 and 20, the upper feeler bar |54 moves from the full lineposition in Fig. 18 to the position shown in dot and dash lines when it rests on the advanced frankfurter. When the eeler device I6 reaches this position,it stays there, as shown in Fig. 39, until the next ligature reaches the feeler device. At that instant, the upper feeler bar |54 drops as shown in Figs. 3 and 40 and causes the ligature to be clamped between the two feeler bars |50 and |54, the spring 220 having been released, as in Fig. 3, thus permitting the bar |54 to-drop freely. At thesame time, the control rod |83 is released by the engagement of the screw 2|! on the lever plate 204 and this causes the control rod to snap downward under the action of the spring |06.

As the control rod |83 moves downward, it brings they raised holding plate 22| downward into locked engagement with the latch 225 (Fig. 9)'. To that end, the upper end of the control rod |83 carries rollers 235 (Figs. 8, 9, 15,` 18 and 20) on a head 235m, adapted to ride along crank arms. 23.6 rigid with the hub of the holding plate 22| as said control rod moves downward and to cause thereby said plate to move downward into holding position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. While the rollers 235 are acting on the crank arms 236, rollers 235a, also supported by the head 235:13,

engage a post 235bon the bracket |85. This prevents bindingof the bar `|83 in bearing. |64..

Theend 236e (Fig. 9) of the holding plate 22| nearest the latch 225 is bevelled and the upper end 237 of the latch is correspondingly bevelled to cause said latch to be cammed outwardly in position to permit said plate to drop in holding position. In this position, the latch 225 snaps into locking engagement with the plate' 22|. While the holding plate 22| is in its releasedposi.i tion (Fig. 18), the. pawl 225 is arrested against a stop 226i) (Fig. 9).

The other end 233 of the holding plate 221| is also bevelled and the lower surface 240- of said plate is low enough in dropped position of said plate to cause said surface to press downwardly upon the roller 230 carried, by the upper `teeler bar |54 as the ieeler device I6 moves from the position shown in full lines in Figs. l and 20. to:- wards the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 20, and to cause thereby' the liga-tureyto. be clamped rmly between the two feeler. bars |50 and |54. The bevelling at the end 236` of the holding plate 22! frees the roller 230 against the pressure action of the holding plate 22| Vin extreme position of the feeler device I6 shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 20 and serves to cam the rallier downward as this roller moves along said. p a e.

As the upper feeler bar |54 is released from restrained engagement with the holding plate 22 it swings edgewise about the axisi of thepivct support 56 by the action ofthe spring 220, 1as shown in 18 and as already described, the spring 229 having previously been loaded in a manner hereinafter described. To absorb the shook of this instantaneous .movement of the feeler bar |54, to .limit the extent of thisswing.- ing movement and to guide the upperv feeler bar |54 in this swinging movement, there is provided a bumper device 245 (Figs. 2, 8, 18, 31 and)v comprising a pair of upright parallel bars 246 secured to the outer end of the lower feeler; bar, |50 and spaced. from each other to denne a guide space 249 therebetween. At the. upper end of these barsA 245 is a bumper sleeve 24.1 comprising a pair of metal plates 248 connected together by a block 250 of material such as leather. This bumper sleeve 247| is slidable along a pair of rods 25| securedto the upper endsaof of the bars 246 and is yieldably helddownward against the upper shoulder ends yof these bars by coil springs 252 bearing against washers and nuts 253 on said rods.

The upper feeler bar |54 passes through the guide space 249 between the bars 246 and slides therealong as it swings about its pivot support |55. A knife actuating bar 255 to be subsequently described rests on the upper feeler barl |54 and' moves with this upper feeler bar when it swings. upwardly. This knife actuating bar 255 strikes the bumper sleeve 241 absorbing the shock/and limiting swinging movement.

THE LIGATURE SEVERING DEVICE FI The ligature severing device comprises a rotary. knife 260 (Figs. 8 and 13..-14) carriedby the upper feeler bar |154 and. operated by thefbar 255 in the manner to be described.. This knife.

the'v knife 260 and has a pin 266 in said recess with a head adapted to pass freely through a circular opening 261 in said knife in the process of assembly and with a shank adapted to be retained in a lneck rextension 268 of said opening in assembled position. A pin 269 secured to the holder 252 in its recess 255 passes through a corresponding hole in the knife 260.

The bearing 253 is in the form of a block having a recess 21| with the ends daring to form bevelled limiting shoulders 212, 213, 214 and 215 and a. constricted circular bearing section 216. The knife holder '262 has a circular section 211 jeurnalled in said bearing section and straight aligned end sections defining straight edges 28| and 28'2 adapted to engage limiting recess shoulders 212 and 213 respectively, in inoperative rotative position of the knife 260, as shown in Fig. 12 and defining straight edges 285 and 284 adapted to engage limiting recess shoulders 214 and '215, respectively, in extreme operative position of said knife.

The bearingr 263 supports the knife holder 262 against the face of the upper feeler bar |54 and against the face of the knife actuating bar 255, so that -said holder is retained between said bar 'faces and said bearing, but is permitted to rock therein.

. The knife 220 is retained in the rotative inoperative limiting position shown in Fig. 12 by a spring .286 secured at one end to a pin Za on the lholder 262 and at its other end to the upper feeler bar |54.

`The ligature vsevering knife 252 is actuated by the bar 255 resting edgewise on the upper feeler bar |54 and slidab-le therealong. Thisy bar 255 is connected to the feeler bar |54 for edgewise angular movement therewith labout the axis of the pivot support '|56 and is guided for longitudinal movement therealong by means of a guide 290 (Figs. 11, '26, 27, '28 and 29) comprising an upward block extension 29| of said feeler bar at the base or inner end of its forked section |55 provided with a slot 292 which slidably receives said bar 255 and which is closed at its upper end by .y

a 'plate .293 fastened to said extension by screws 294. Integral or otherwise rigid with the upper feel'er bar |54 near its outer end section is a second guide clamp 225 for the bar 255.

A post 2Std secured to one end of the lower feeler bar |55 serves as an anchor for one end of the spring v22d, the other end being secured to the upper edge of the knife actuating bar 255. rIhis spring 22d comprises a series of spring units hooked together to permit it to become easily sla'ckened during certain phases of operation to be described and serves to snap the bars |54 and 255 into open position about the axis of the pivot support |56, when the feeler device l5 has been released in the position shown in dot and dash linesin Fig. 20. The bar 255 passes through the space between the guide bars 246 and is acted u'pon by the bumper 245 when the bars |54 and 255 'are snapped as a unit into open position.

The bar 255 carries an arm 226 (Figs. 1l-14) pivoted thereto at 257 and having a notch 298 receiving a pin S secured to the knife holder 262. This arm 225 is urged counterclockwise (Fig. 12) into catch engaffement with the pin '35e by a spring clip 32| anchored 4at one end to said bar and bearing at its other end against a pin 302 on said arm.

tWhen the knife actuating bar 255 is moved endwise along the upper feeier bar |55 towards the left (Fig. 12) after the ligature has been clamped between the ligature fee'ler bars 150 and |54, the arm 296 is moved therewith in the same direction, and this causes the knife holder 262 to be rotated counterclockwise about the axis of its bearing support into the position shown in Fig. 1l. This results in the knife 265 moving into position to cut the clamped ligature. At this point, the pin 226e engages the arm 296 and continued motion of bar 255 causes said arm to turn clockwise lifting the notch 253 out of engagement with the pin 32d permitting springl 285 to return knife holder 252 instantly to the position 'shown in Fig. 12. This is necessary as otherwise the point of knife 25d would protrude below the bar |54 during the return movement of bar 255 and injure the frankfurter when bar 54 was lowered onto it.

As the knife actuating bar 255 returns endwise towards. the right (Fig. 12), the notch 292 on arm 2de then reengages the pin tdt, as shown in Fig. l2.

lor moving the bar 255 endwise along the upper feeler bar 55, there is provided a bell crank 355 (Figs. 11 and 21) extending in a recess 326 in the lower feeier bar 52 and pivotally supported therein by a pin 326. One arm Sie of this bell crank 365 has a cleft pin and slot connection 3|1| with the upper end of an upright rodv 312, the upright shaft 25| controlling the angular movement of the feeler device e in 'a horizontal 'plane being hollow, and said rod 2 i2 being retained and there-in for endwise movement. The other arm the crank 555 passes through the between the legs of the forked 'end section 255 or the upper feeler bar |254 and is connectedd to one of the knife actuating bar '.255 by a link pivotaly connected at its ends.

The rod 2|2 for controlling the endwise movement of the knife actuating bar 255 is actuated from the face cam |52 (Fig. 3) through the shaft itil. To that end, there is keyed or otherwise secured to this shaft i5@ rocked by the face cam |22 a crank arm tit having a cleft pivotal connection SE1 with the lower end of the rod vSI2` As the earn shaft |52 starts to rotate after receiving a ligature feeler impulse and after the one-revolution clutch its has been released as a result of said impulse, the rod 5l2vstartsto be moved downward by the action of the shaft |50 rocked from the face cani |22, and this 'causes the knife actuating bar 255 to be moved endwise towards the left (Figs. 8 and l2) from the inactive position shown in Figs. 8 and 12 through the bell crank and link connections 353 and ST5 to the ligature cutting position shown in Fig-1i.

SKIN SLITTNG DEVICE i8 After the ligature between the advanced frank*- furter and the next frankfurter yof the string .has been clamped between the feeler lbars |50 :and |54 `and while the feeler dev-ice i5 is moving in a horizontal plane about the anis of the upright shaft |5| from the position shown in full lines' in Figs. l and 20 towards the position shown in dot and'dash lines in Fig. 2e, a small' transverse slit 3293 (Fig. 42) is formed inthe skin or casing 'i2 near the advanced end off this next frankfurter by the slitting device i2 preliminary to the formation of a skin stripping tab. This slitting device i2 comprises 'a slitting knife 525i (Figs. 53., 15, 16, 17, 20, 39, 40 and 4i) secured toa hol-der 322 which pivotally hangs by a 'pivotconnectien 323 from a .bracket 5224 secured to the knife actu ating bar 255 and which 'is urged 'into slitting position by 'a spring-3.2 5 lbetween said holder and 

